3 Detroit Lions who must play well in Week 15 against the New York Jets

1. QB Jared Goff

Goff has been playing as well as any quarterback in the league during Detroit’s hot streak. But it’s worth noting the Lions’ last three games have been at home, and Goff’s home-road splits this season are striking in their contrast.

Home (eight games): 20 touchdowns, three interceptions, 277.1 passing yards per game, 106.9 passer rating
Road (five games): two touchdowns, four interceptions, 227 passing yards per game, 81.0 passer rating

It won’t be the kind of bad conditions it could be in New Jersey in mid-December on Sunday. But outdoors on the road has not been good for Goff, and beyond that it’s also a very tough matchup for him. In general, Sunday’s game against a tough Jets’ defense is lined up to be a reality check for the Lions’ offense.

After the game, the measure of how well Goff played on Sunday won’t be necessarily found in raw numbers. If he’s accurate (65 percent or better completion rate), he’s on the money with critical throws (third down, red zone, general chain-movers) and most importantly he avoids turnovers (at all, or at least in bunches like has happened to him sometimes), the Lions’ chances to win will be exponentially better.